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ith the acquisition of Total Specialty Chemicals' Coating Resins and Photocure Resins businesses, French chemicals supplier Arkema says it will be able to establish itself as a leader in the in the global coatings resins market and to increase the downstream integration of its acrylics chain, with added potential for growth and synergies.

The businesses comprise Cray Valley and Cook Composite Polymers (coatings) and Sartomer (fast UV and electron beam curing resins). With operations worldwide (Cray Valley in Europe, Asia and South Africa; Cook Composite Polymers in the US; and Sartomer in Europe, the US and Asia), the businesses have sales of around EUR850 million and employ 1,750 employees on some 20 sites. Arkema is paying EUR 550 million for the purchase.

The acquisitions are in line with Arkema's five-year growth plan to add on EUR1 billion of sales to its coffers and increase its presence in Asia through Cray Valley's facilities in India and Malaysia and Sartomer's newly opened plant in China.